MYANMAR, THAILAND AND CAMBODIA TOUR 11 DAYS

Destination: Yangon/Bagan/Heho/Inle Lake/Indein/Bangkok/Phnom Penh/Siem Reap

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Yangon arrival (G)

Arrive in Yangon International Airport, welcome by guide, transfer to hotel, check in hotel, relax in hotel.

This afternoon, your journey in this fascinating city begins with a sightseeing excursion around the colonial buildings in Yangon’s downtown. Starting with the National Museum, a tour of the priceless works of art and historic memorabilia on display allows you to gain insight into the country’s glorious history. Of particular interest are the three halls on the ground floor that showcase the evolution of the Burmese script, the Lion Throne Room and artifacts from the Yatanabon Period. Following your museum visit, continue to Kyauk htat gyi Pagoda, home to a 70-metre reclining Buddha statue. As the evening approaches, head to Myanmar’s holiest monument – Shwedagon Pagoda, a towering stupa covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon/Bagan (B, L, G)

After breakfast, transfer to the Yangon airport for your flight to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, transfer to the hotel for a quick freshen-up. The exciting day of sightseeing starts with a trip to the colorful Nyaung Oo Market followed by visits to the various renowned temples in Bagan. Stops include Shwezigon Pagoda with its magnificent golden stupa, Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi cave temple with its exquisite murals, and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. Lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, visit Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece of the early temple style that contains four impressive standing Buddha images. Continue to the nearby Ananda Okkyaung, one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period and Thatbyinnyu Temple, Bagan’s tallest temple at 61 meters. Embark on a sunset horse carriage ride that takes you past dozens of temples – including Sulamani and Dhammayangyi – and the traditional village of Taungbi. As the sun sets, climb onto one of the upper terraces for panoramic overviews of the Bagan plains. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 3: Bagan (B, L, G)

After breakfast, head to Ngat Pyit Taung Monastery and explore the temple’s caves to learn about the local traditions and beliefs. Then, visit the monastic primary school and observe local children studying in their classrooms. Be greeted by the warm smiles of these friendly children as you interact and play with them. Coming from underprivileged backgrounds, these students will surely appreciate a small donation of cash or school supplies from you. Lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch, explore the town of Nyaung U and the neighboring villages where you can learn about the traditional livelihoods in this area. Discover the interesting process of creating Poneyay (pea powder paste) and see how local plum jam is made and packed. In addition, visit the workshops to witness the production of the region’s best known products: handmade lacquer ware and wooden handicrafts. At the villages, find out how cartwrights make the traditional bullock carts that are still used by farmers and locals throughout the country. This afternoon makes a great opportunity for hands-on activities as the local craftsmen often love to share their techniques with visitors. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 4: Bagan/Heho/Inle Lake (B, L, G)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Heho. From Heho, a one-hour scenic drive leads to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. At Nyaung Shew, board a private motorboat and head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Sailing past stilt villages inhabited by the local Intha people, observe the one-legged rowing techniques of the Intha fishermen and see their floating gardens unique to the area. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery. The monastery houses a collection of beautiful Shan Buddha statues and is known for its cats who have been trained by the resident monks to jump through hoops! Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary and home to five revered Buddha statues. Your sightseeing trip also encompasses a visit to the weaving village of Inpawkhone, a cheroot factory where typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, we will lead you on an short walk through one of the lakeside villages. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 5: Inle Lake/Indein/Inle Lake (B, L, G)

After breakfast, a 1-hour boat ride leads to the Pa-Oh village of Indein, one of the small villages situated on the western bank of Inle Lake. Take a slow stroll around the village and the local school before ascending the covered stairway to the top of the hill. At the summit, a Buddha image sits enshrined amid hundreds of ancient stupa ruins and overgrown bushes. You will also be rewarded with mesmerizing views of the surroundings from the peak. Then, embark on a 1-hour trek to “Se Ma” village. Along the way, enjoy the natural beauty and panoramic vistas of the area while walking under the shade of bamboo grooves. Upon arrival at the village, observe the daily lifestyles of the rural inhabitants before enjoying a picnic lunch in the village. After lunch, transfer back to Tharlay village on a canoe boat ride (1 hour) which provides views of the picturesque Inle Lake and up-close interaction opportunities with the Intha people to learn about their traditional one-legged rowing techniques. Then, transfer back to your hotel on a private motorboat. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 6: Inle Lake/Heho/Yangon/Bangkok (B, G)

After breakfast, spend a leisurely morning around the Inle Lake before transferring to Heho airport for a short flight back to Yangon to connect with your flight to Bangkok.

On arrival, met and transferred to your hotel for check in. Then, you’ll be free. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

Day 7: Bangkok tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast at the hotel, tour visit city highlight of Bangkok includes; Wat Phra Keo, Wat Trimit, the Golden Buddha Image. Proceed to Wat Pho or the Temple of Reclining Buddha and take a ferry to Wat Arun. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch visit to the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple. Return to hotel for leisure and overnight stay.

Day 8: Bangkok/Phnom Penh (B, G)

Breakfast at your hotel. Then, you’ll be free until the guide and driver come and take you to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival, met and transferred to your hotel for check in.

Afternoon, visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures – from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.

End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset. Overnight stay in Phnom Penh.

Day 9: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel,

Transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport and departure by Siem Reap Airways International or similar to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not ready until the afternoon).

In the morning, visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and Ta Prohm. One of the area’s most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Visit as well Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Visit Preah Khan temple. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Continue your visits to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake and visit the temple of Ta Som as well as Srah Srang (“The Royal Baths”), undoubtedly used in the past for ritual bathing. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 10: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), until sunset. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11: Siem Reap departure (B, G)

Breakfast at hotel.

Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art.

Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Visit “Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap and time at leisure at the local market (if time permits). Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight.